Fastener for detachable table legs



March 28, 1950 A. J. SHOENBERG FASTENER FOR DETACHABLE TABLE LEGS Filed July 16, 1.948

iiiiiiiii 4 r 7'ORNE Y Patented Mar. 28, 1950 STATES FASTENER FOR DETACH A BLE TABLELEGS Abraham .i'. Shoenberg, Clinton,;Mass., assignor' to Empire Furniture Manufacturing Gompany, Clinton, Mass, a corporation of Massachusetts Applicationiuly 1.6, 1948, Serial No. 39,073

2 Claims. 1

This invention relates to tables, and more particularly to the construction of tables having tubular metal legs and flat tops to which the upper portions of the legs are connected.

In certain types of tables, comparatively strong and rigid aprons depend from the table tops, and the legs are often attached to these aprons. This is frequently true with rectangular tables. In other tables the aprons, if provided at all, are primarily for ornamental purposes and they are too light and flimsy to be of any use as leg supports. In such tables it has been a common practice to bend the upper portions of the legs at right angles and to fasten them by means of screws or the like to the lower surface of the table top. This is expensive and unsatisfactory in many respects. Since the table tops and legs are shipped unassembled, the dealer is required to attach the legs, and with these prior constructions this is a rather difficult task for which many dealers are not properly equipped. Furthermore, such constructions often lack the necessary strength, and they include no provision for adjusting the legs vertically, as may be required in order that the table may set firmly in a level position without rocking.

It is accordingly one object of the invention to provide a comparatively strong and relatively inexpensive construction for a table including a top and tubular metal legs attached thereto.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a table having a top and tubular metal legs attached to the top independently of any apron which may be employed, the construction being such as to enable an unskilled person to mount the legs firmly and accurately in place.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a table having tubular metal legs attached at their upper ends to a top of wood or the like in such a manner as to provide a strong and rigid connection and to permit vertical adjustment of the legs.

With these and other objects in view, as will be apparent to those skilled in the art, the invention resides in the combination of parts set forth in the specification and covered by the claims appended hereto.

Referring to the drawing illustrating one embodiment of the invention, and in which like reference numerals indicate like parts,

Fig. l is a top plan view of a table;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the table;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary view in section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1;

ill

Fig. 4 is a section taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3;.

Fig. 5 is a bottom plan view of a. bracket;

Fig. 6 is aperspective view of thebracketshown in Fig. 5;, and.

Fig. '7 is a side elevation of the of a table leg element.

The embodiment illustrated comprises a horizontal table top 10 of Wood or the like. This particular top is oval shaped in plan, and to its outer edge there is attached a depending apron H which serves primarily for decorative purposes. Four horizontal metal bracket plates l2 are fastened to the lower surface of the top ID, in appropriate positions, by means of round head wood screws M which extend through holes in the plates. The outer edge of each plate is convex so that it may fit close to the adjacent portion of the apron II, and the inner edge of the plate is concave, with both of these edges curved at the same radius. This makes it possible to stamp the plates successively from a single sheet metal strip without any waste of material.

From each plate l2 there depends a socket member I! of sheet metal comprising an upright web l8 with its opposite end portions bent into loops l9 forming upright cylindrical sockets. The web I8 lies approximately in the plane defined by the axes of the loops [9. The loops I9 extend somewhat short of a complete circle, so that a vertical slot is provided along one side of each socket. Openings 22 are provided in each loop so that horizontal bolts 23 may be inserted therethrough. The upper edge of the socket member is welded firmly to the lower surface of the plate I2.

At each socket member I! there is provided a U-shaped or hairpin leg 25 formed of a cylindrical metal tube bent into the desired shape. Each branch 26 of the leg may be described as a leg element. The upper portions of the leg elements 26 have vertically elongated openings 21 (Fig. 7) therethrough, and they fit closely within the loops 19, with the bolts 23 extending through the openings 27.

It will now be apparent that the bracket plates I 2 may be fastened to the table top ID at the factory, and the legs 25 may be shipped in a separate package. To complete the assembly of the table, it is merely necessary to insert the leg elements 26 in the loops I9, place the bolts 23 through the openings 22 and 21, and tighten the bolts. Because of the slots 20, the loops are free to flex the slight amount necessary to grip the upper portion 3 leg elements firmly as the bolts are tightened. Any legs may be adjusted vertically if required to make the table set level. The brackets will be concealed from view by the apron ll, so that the table is neat and attractive in appearance.

It will be recognized that the invention .provides a highly desirable table construction havin many practical advantages over the prior practice in this art.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. A table comprising a horizontal top, a horizontal metal plate fastened to the lower surface of the top, a socket member of sheet metal secured to the plate and depending therefrom, the socket member including an upright web with its end portions bent into loops forming two upright sockets, and two spaced upright leg elements with their upper portions fitting closely within the said sockets.

2. A table comprising a horizontal top, a horizontal metal plate fastened to the lower surface of the top, a socket member of sheet metal welded to the plate and depending therefrom, the socket member including an upright web with its end portions bent into loops forming two upright sockets, and a U-shaped tubular metal leg having two spaced upright leg elements with their upper portions fitting closely within the said sockets.

ABRAHAM J. SHOENBERG.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 326,006 Winchell Sept. 8, 1885; 362,915 Zeigler May 10, 1887! 425,948 Herbert Apr. 15, 1890 1,406,144 Battaglia Feb. 7, 1922 1,552,104 Zahner Sept. 1, 1925 1,583,405 Luppert May 4, 1926 1,725,370 Richards Aug. 20, 1929 2,283,351 Booth May 19, 1942 2,305,870 Haberstump Dec. 22, 1942 2,428,877 Holabird Oct. 14, 1947 

